Winning Heals All

Published: April 21, 2002

To the Sports Editor:

A great deal has been written about Michael Strahan's unwillingness to sign a new contract and how Tiki Barber has created further turmoil within the Giants. It was the former general manager George Young who said in reference to contract talks with Lawrence Taylor, ''He will give his all on every play whether he earns x or y,'' and the same can be said for the 2002 Giants. Next season, when a pass is dropped or a tackle is missed, it won't be because of Strahan's or Barber's comments months before.

The Giants, and all teams in professional sports for as long as there is organized competition, will find that losing creates, promotes and prolongs unrest. The medicine for almost all that ails any team is simple, and Al Davis is credited with explaining the cure: just win.